The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30
A BURGLARS XII I.
THE TOOLS USED BY EXPERT
ENCED SAFE ROBBERS.
Instruments Specially Designed for
Use by Ihieves-A Powerful
Little Vise-Burglars Their
Own Tool Makers.

Burglars tools9" said veteran po-
lice officer, in reply toa question, why,
yes; there's lots of them around. A good
many are in the police stations, but
large enough number are left in the
hands of experienced men to keep US
busy, and the owners of well-f!ied safes
nervous. 80"
Then leading the way to closet the
officer took down a heavy bundle that
was wrapped in Rubber cloth. Opening
this he displayed an assortment of tools,
of sufficient variety of sizes and shapes
to stock the shop of any locksmith.
"We captured this kit, continued the
officer, "from q gang of safe'blowers,
who were just commencing work on the
safe in the Office of the Norton Mills at
the Madison street bridge. Through the
nervousness of the watchman who dis
covered them, they were alarmed and
gained sufficient time to make their es.
cape, but not to take their tools with
them"
Opening a second bundle, the officer
took out a large, heavy INSTRUMENT,
that to the casual observer might have
been used for anything but watch repair
ing with equal aptitude. The tool,
however, had been specially designed
and made for the purpose of forcing
safe doors and was the latest product Of
the profession that defes locks and lock.
smiths. 1t is the latest outg. owth OF
the old breast bit and brace. and is capa-
BILE Iof applying enormous pressure. In
commencing operations on safe with
this instrument three small holes are
first bored in the outer sheeting OF the
safe door, and the brace, for such it really
is, fastened firmly to the door by means
of three screws. When this is done the
hardest labor of the thieves is over, for
after placing the drill, known in the
thieves slang as "tap," in the brace,
the simple turning of the crank and the
use of the wheel will speedily cut through
any plate of iron or steel, however hard
ened. The machine is so arranged that
the crank merely revolves the drill, while
the wheel, which closely resembles that
used aboard ships, regulates the pressure
of the drill against the metal to be cut.
After having reached the lock plain
steel rod is inserted in the brace, and
the wheel being turned the lock is
broken and the bolts left free to be
opened by turning the safe knob. The
steel braces are over an inch in diam
eter. The entire instrument is the work
of an expert mschinist, and shows that
the greatest care has been taken in its
construction.
Among the braces and drill marked
was found little hand wise, evidently
made for the express use of the thieves,
as it bore no manufacturer stamp OF
date of patent. The wise, though only
six inches in length and operated by Q
thumb screw, was very powerful one,
and in addition to its use as wise added
that of wrench. The gang of thieves
from which this exit" was captured had
secured entrance to the Office of the
Norton Mills through an adjoining build
ing, and were hard at work upon the
safe when discovered by the night watch
man. Instead of summoning the police
the night watchman stood outside tho
building and shouted "burglars "at the
highest pitch of his lungs until the
thieves took the alarm and made their
escape.
A kit similar to this one, though not as
powerful, was turned over to tho police OF
the West Chicago avenue station by 8
Mr.. Higgins, of No. 18 Osborn street,
some months ago. Mr.. Higgins late one
night went into shed in tine rear OF his
house to get hod OF coal. As ne threw
the light of his lantern into the bin he
saw a small satchel, and, on opening it,
discovered the tools. Thinking they be-
longed to some machinist who had care
lessly left them there, Mr.. Higgins
turned them over to the police to hold,
awaiting the claim of the owner. The
owner, however, failed to appear, and so
the kit-a finely made lot of burglars
tools--remained with the police. Intesting
the power of these instruments cast
iron plate one inch in thickness was easily
cut through in fifteen minutes, while
wrought steel plate only required few
more minutes.
The query of "Who makes these
tools2" was propounded to dozen de-
tectives and police officers, but brought
only the one response, "The burglars
themselves.
"a good cracksman," said a detective,
'shas necessarily to be a good mechanic.
He naturally relies upon himself for the
manufacture of his instruments, and as he
grows more expert in his work he grows
more inventive. The brace over at
Desplaines street is but an improvement
on the old breast brace. Some ingenious
,,oolsmon evidentlv discovered that the
pressure of his body was not sufficient to
enable the drill to work well, and
thought Of the plan to compel the safe
itself to hold the brace ard furnish the
pressure. Oh, those fellows are inge-
nnious enough" added the detective as
he lit cigar. "The only trouble is that
thcy spend so much time on their inven-
tions that they keep us hustling night
and day to keep track OF them."-Ca'ea-
go Herald.
Colds and Air Drafts.